Word Origin & History

stuff early 14c., "quilted material worn under chain mail," from O.Fr. estoffe "quilted material, furniture, provisions" (Fr. étoffe), from estoffer "to equip or stock," probably from O.H.G. stopfon "to plug, stuff," or from a related Frankish word (see stop). Sense extended to material for working with in various trades (c.1400), then (1570s) "matter of an unspecified kind." Meaning "narcotic, dope, drug" is attested from 1929. To know (one's) stuff "have a grasp on a subject" is recorded from 1927. stuffy "poorly ventilated" is from 1831; sense of "pompous, smug" is from 1895.

Example Sentences for stuff

I don't think much of his stuff, but they say he makes heaps of money.

You can peel the stuff out of your pockets with one hand, I figure.

But he said to himself "there was stuff in her: what a woman might be made of her!"

Add the seasonings, mix thoroughly, and stuff into the bird.

These landscape fellows buy their stuff direct, and the middleman's out.

These roots were Stigmaria, and the stuff into which they penetrated was an underclay.

I've got him in another barn; that stuff's as catchin' as measles.

"That is precisely the kind of stuff I do mean," answered Peter.

It's the stuff that a thousand summer-girl stories have been spun out of.

And she thought I was a bad influence on you, filling your head with stuff out of books.